Misinformation messages shared via WhatsApp in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploratory study

Little is known about the role of WhatsApp in spreading misinformation during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico. The aim of this study is to analyze the message content, format, authorship, time trends and social media distribution channels of misinformation in WhatsApp messages in Mexico. From March 18 to June 30, 2020 the authors collected all WhatsApp messages received via their personal contacts and their social networks that contained information about COVID-19. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the scientifically inaccurate messages and the relationship between variables, respectively. Google image and video searches were carried out to identify sharing on other social media. Out of a total of 106 messages, the most frequently mentioned COVID-19 related message topics were prevention (20.0%), conspiracy (18.5%), therapy (15.4%) and origin of the virus (10.3%), changing throughout the pandemic according to users' concerns. Half of all WhatsApp messages were either images or videos. WhatsApp images were also shared on Facebook (80%) and YouTube (similar to 50%). Our findings indicate that the design of information and health promotion campaigns requires to be proactive in adapting to the changes in message content and format of misinformation shared through encrypted social media. Lay Summary As an encrypted social media platform with hardly accessible content, little is known about the role of WhatsApp in spreading misinformation messages (either false or misleading information) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico. In this study, researchers studied the content, format, time and channel of distribution of WhatsApp messages containing information about COVID-19 collected via their personal contacts and their social networks from March 18 to June 30, 2020. Half of all messages were visually-appealing and the content changed according to the population ' s concerns. WhatsApp messages were also distributed in several other social media platforms. Understanding the format and content of misinformation may help to design dynamic health information and promotion campaigns against it. Regulations of public social media such as Youtube can have a positive impact on WhatsApp.